“ECU has an extraordinary nursing program.... It means being able to work with people who are motivated and ambitious like me. And I can share and apply my knowledge to give back to my community."

Hometown:

Havelock, N.C.

Parents:

Darrell and Cynthia Hamilton

High School:

N.C. School of Science & Math

Career goal:

Nursing

Selena Hamilton: Serving her ultimate goal

A trip to Honduras last year reinforced Selena Hamilton’s desire to help others by becoming a nurse and eventually working with a humanitarian group.

“I saw malnutrition and how people are deprived of health care,” said Hamilton, 17. “I’m interested in providing good comprehensive health services to people.”

Hamilton, of Havelock, will be one of 20 incoming freshmen entering East Carolina University in August as EC Scholars — the most prestigious academic scholarship program the university offers.

The trip to Central America was with a group from the N.C. School of Science and Math, where she spent her junior and senior years of high school. The students worked with Global Brigades, the world’s largest student-led global health and sustainable development organization.

“It was really life changing. The simple things we take for granted, like running water, is something many communities don’t have in Honduras,” Hamilton said.

At NCSSM, Hamilton is goalie for the girls’ soccer team, which went to the state playoffs. She is a member of the Red Cross Club, and a frequent first place winner on the school’s first speech and debate team. Participating on the team has helped her develop communication skills and come up with new ideas.

This summer, Hamilton will finish earning credits to become a certified nursing assistant, and will spend time with family and friends. She hopes to volunteer with the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity, where she has been on house-building crews. “I really like it because you get to work with the families you’re helping,” she said.

Fluent in French and Chinese, Hamilton plans to major in nursing and minor in Spanish or French at ECU.

She chose ECU because of the support and opportunities that being an EC Scholar provides. And, “ECU has an extraordinary nursing program,” she said. “It means being able to work with people who are motivated and ambitious like me. And I can share and apply my knowledge to give back to my community.”

Hamilton is the daughter of Darrell and Cynthia Hamilton.

-- Crystal Baity, ECU News Services

About EC Scholars

EC Scholars exhibit outstanding academic performance and effective leadership skills. They have opportunities to contribute to faculty-led research studies, engagement in the community and multiple service activities.

The amount awarded to scholarship recipients is $40,000 ($5,000 per semester for eight continuous semesters). In addition, EC Scholars are provided with a $5,000 stipend to help support their required study abroad experience.

The entering Class of 2016 EC Scholar recipients have completed a rigorous three-tier selection process that includes: meeting the Honors College admissions criteria, having an additional faculty review and completing an on-campus interview. The incoming EC Scholar recipients have an average combined math/verbal SAT score of 1346 and an average unweighted GPA of 3.89.